Acumen Fund is a global philanthropic venture capital fund that seeks to prove that small amounts of philanthropic capital, combined with business skills, can build thriving enterprises that serve vast numbers of poor people in developing economies. It now has 26 investments in a number of developing countries in south Asia and Africa. Novogratz is a trailblazer of the idea that business can be an effective means to bring about social good. Her thoughts on sustainable businesses in the developing world have helped to shape the field of social investment.